Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
Al Jolson Lyrics


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Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody.
When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie.
Just place my cradle, mammy mine,
Right on the Mason Dixon line,
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya.

Weep no more, my lady.
Sing that song again for me.
Soft and low, just as though
You had me on your knee.

A million baby kisses I'd deliver,




If you would only sing that Swanee River.
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Al Jolson's song "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" speaks about a mother's love for her child and her yearning for her Southern roots. The song starts with the line "Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody," which refers to the act of putting a baby to sleep with a melody that reminds the mother of her Southern roots. The second line, "When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie," further emphasizes this connection to Dixie, encouraging the mother to sing a tune that comes from the soul of the South.


The following lines highlight the mother's desire to keep her child close to her roots, both geographically and emotionally. The line "Just place my cradle, mammy mine, right on the Mason Dixon line" speaks to the mother's longing to be both a Southerner and an American, and to maintain the connection between the two cultures. The final lines of the chorus reinforce this connection, urging the mother to "swing it from Virginia to Tennessee with all the love that's in ya."


The second verse of the song speaks more directly to the idea of a mother singing to her child. The line "Sing that song again for me" shows the mother's desire to relive these moments with her child over and over again. The final lines of the verse express the depth of love between mother and child, with the lyrics "A million baby kisses I'd deliver, if you would only sing that Swanee River." The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, reminding the listener of the importance of Southern roots and a mother's love.


Line by Line Meaning

Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody.
Sing your child to sleep with a song that captures the essence of the American South.


When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie.
When you sing, sing a song that expresses the soul of the Southern United States.


Just place my cradle, mammy mine,
Put my baby bed down, dear mother,


Right on the Mason Dixon line,
Let it rest on the symbolic border that divides the North and the South,


And swing it from Virginia
And gently move it from Virginia,


To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya.
To Tennessee, pouring all your love into the motion to soothe your little one.


Weep no more, my lady.
Stop crying, my dear lady.


Sing that song again for me.
Sing that beautiful melody for me once more.


Soft and low, just as though
Sing it gently and tenderly, as though


You had me on your knee.
You were holding me on your lap as a baby.


A million baby kisses I'd deliver,
If you only sang the Swanee River,


If you would only sing that Swanee River.
One beautiful Southern song is enough to send my love for my child overflowing.


Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody.
Soothe your little one to sleep with a Southern lullaby.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEAN SCHWARTZ, JOE YOUNG, SAM M. LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Hell's ride Schilling

Mammy mine, your little rolling stone that rolled away, rolled away
Mammy mine, your little rolling stone is home today, there to stay!
I want to see your smiling face, smile a welcome smile
I want to feel your fond embrace, listen, Mammy mine!

Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just Hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya

Weep no more, Weep no more my lady
Mammy, sing it again for me
And "Old Black Joe"
Just as though
You had me on your knee
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
If you will only sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody

Rock-a-bye
Rock your little baby
With a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a little tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya

Mammy, mammy listen to what they're playing
They're playing Weep No More My Lady
Sing it again for me
And you remember, remember " Old Black Joe"
God love you Mammy, you sang when I was on your knee
A million baby kisses -- [kissing sounds] -- I'll deliver
Mammy sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody!



All comments from YouTube:

guyonearth

Jolson had a powerful voice. He performed mostly in the pre-amplifier era, and it's probably incomprehensible to modern audiences that many singers at this time performed in theaters like this without microphones or a PA system. His voice could fill a music hall.

JudgeJulieLit

Too that may explain the popularity of Ethel Merman, whose voice I find too strident.

George Penwell

@JudgeJulieLit:
Loved Jolson, Merman always annoyed me. Not just because of her singing voice but because her overall persona, (and speaking voice, too) seemed crass to me.

Lucinio Roldan

J

Douglas Schneider

He also sang with just 1 lung in his later career. Amazing!

Tommy. Bee. .

Tony Bennett . " I will show you how they did it in old days.." He belted it out..
I saw him twice in a Theater built 1928 .Ohio..

3 More Replies...

Helen Wietlisbach

This performance is timeless. I am to young to have had the opportunity to experience vaudeville. This shows me how wonderderfull it must have been.

JakeeeWareee

Greatest entertainer ever, no more tobe to said . What a voice !!!!!!!!!

Mark Kniff

Al Jolson was, AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER!!!

Hell's ride Schilling

Mammy mine, your little rolling stone that rolled away, rolled away
Mammy mine, your little rolling stone is home today, there to stay!
I want to see your smiling face, smile a welcome smile
I want to feel your fond embrace, listen, Mammy mine!

Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just Hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya

Weep no more, Weep no more my lady
Mammy, sing it again for me
And "Old Black Joe"
Just as though
You had me on your knee
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
If you will only sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody

Rock-a-bye
Rock your little baby
With a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a little tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya

Mammy, mammy listen to what they're playing
They're playing Weep No More My Lady
Sing it again for me
And you remember, remember " Old Black Joe"
God love you Mammy, you sang when I was on your knee
A million baby kisses -- [kissing sounds] -- I'll deliver
Mammy sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody!

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